Ice cube tray



T, 3.9%@ M. M. Bum-Mmmm AM ICE CUBE TRAY Filed Feb. 5, 1.947. 2 sheets-sheet l INVENTOR Mb. Wg. W5@ M. K. BUCHANAN 496933K ICE CUBE TRAY Filed Feb. 5, 1947 2 Sheets-Shes?I 2 TTORNEYS Patented ein. 7, 1j95 STATES PATENT OFFICE aliases-1 9 Clainfisi` This invention relates to ice trays adihre particularly to an improved constructiiin of an ice tray having means for releasing the ice cubes from the pan and fromthe grid.

In my prior Patent 1393535, graiiteddanua'r;

10, 1933, I have disclosed an ice tray Comprising a pan and a grid provided with means for rais;

ing the grid in the pari to release the grid and the cubes, frozen thereto', from the pan'. n the construction disclosed in that patent the grid is rigid and the cubes therefore remain bonded to the grid when the cubes and grid are released from the pan.

In Reissue Patent 18,819,` granted on May 1933 to Albert G. Horton and me; there is disclosed an improvement over my earlierl patent in which the grid is made in tw'orelatively mov:

able parts and in which means are provided foi"Y including a grid consisting of relatively movableV parts. In some of these deViCestheleVerage ob-V tainable is not suicient for breaking the bond between the cubes and the pan and grid and in other devices the initial movement of a part of the grid is too abrupt resulting in shattering'of the ice cubes.

In the present invention I have provided an improved construction for releasing the cubes from the pan and the grid in which a minimum of force is required and in which the cubes are released Without shattering. In carrying out the invention I provide a pan of conventional cori-S struction and a grid member. The grid member consists of a pair of longitudinal members and a plurality of cross members or iins.- An operatiV ing lever is secured to the longitudinal members adjacent each end and these levers areprovided with toes or extensions overlapping `the uppern edge of the pan. When the levers are" swung ori" their pivots, the entire grid structure is raised in the pan. Further movement of the lves causes relative movement of the two longitudinal grid members. The upper longitudinal member is provided with extensions which overli" the opposite sides of the lower member and these extensions are provided with offsets er proje'c-f tions which cause the cubes to be moved laterally' of thehpan as the uppermember is moved relaf tively to the lower member, releasing the cubes from the grid. g g g l The herein disclosedv 'construction provides a tray from vvliliold` ice cubes can be readily removed and in Whichthe cubes are not shattered or breken wiier'irIeased.

In the, accompanying drawing I have sliovri several embodiments of the invention. In this rig. iis a pas view of nie tray with the parte in the norinal position occupied dining freezing ofthe cubes 1 1 Fig; 2 is a vertical, sectional viev'ii on line 2-2 ofFigzi;

Fig. 3 isawsiiiiai View siiwing the grid iii raised psitiorir i L i N Fig. 4 is a vertical,A sectional View on line 4"'-4 of Fig;2`; Y Y Fig; 5 is a 'siiiiia view with the grid in raised position;

Fig` 6 is 'al detailed,- sectiiial vievv on line `{i4-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a similar View on' line ii ci rig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of one endo'f the up; per longitudinal grid member Showing a modi-y `iied construction;

Fig. Qis a vertical, sectional View on line 9-29 0f Fig; 8j

Fig, 10 is a side elevation of the upper grid member.;V

Fig.` 11 is a similar view of the lower grid mem'- ber;

Fi.` i2 is a similar viewofa spacing strip;

Fig, 13 is a side View o'f the lower grid memberh transversemembers and spacing strip partially assembled;

Fig. Vlfiis an elevation of one of the transverse membersgnd Fig`. 15 isha transverse, sectional View on line i .1 a ..6 i n.. n.

Referring to the drawing, the reference nii- V moral designates a pan forming a" portion of an icetrayf. This pai'i'-may be constructed of any suitable material, bijt is preferably 5inane uof metal orA other heat conductive material to facilitate freezing or the' cubes. It may be of any' sijzeeiid shape and ifi practice vvil1 b` made oi various Sizes to accomiiiddat iiseifio rie'eziiig unirsi df various sizes' in Vwhich `it is used. One end of me pan isiircvicieii vi/iin an ena ivan 2 w'iichj is siibsiaiiiisiiy ai iieiiiaiigie tri teiten :if of the pan arid the other end ispreferably rddndeii a'sat 4: Trie side walls; 5 or the pari may Ibellaiiividei with a siigiitfdutwad sare to facili:`

tate removal of the cubes. The upper edges of the side walls are turned over to form beads 6 for strengthening the pan and at the front and back similar beads 'I are slightly spaced from the corresponding wall providing a shelf or flange 8. The grid comprises a lower longitudinal member 9 and an upper longitudinal memn ber III. The lower member consists of a strip of metal preferably of uniform width throughout substantially its entire length having end sections S and Ill extending upwardly a distance slightly greater than the height of the pan. As shown, the end section IB is curved on its lower edge corresponding to the curvature I of the end wall of the pan. The upper longitudinal member I (I is of a width slightly greater than the height of the pan and this member is provided with a plurality of spaced slots II and I2. The alternate slots II are of greater height than the slots I2 and are of a suitable height to receive the cross members. The slots I2 are of sufficient height to clear the lower longitudinal member and a spacing strip I3 which is arranged between the upper and lower longitudinal grid members when the device is assembled.

The material between the slots II and I2 is alternately offset to clear the lower longitudinal member and provide extensions I4 which lie on opposite sides of the lower longitudinal grid member. These extensions are provided with projections I5 adjacent their lower ends. The projections may be formed by offsetting the metal of which the upper longitudinal grid member is constructed from the opposite side. In each of the slots II a cross member or transverse n I5 is arranged. The transverse members are provided with slots I1 adjacent their upper ends which are of greater depth than the distance between the top of the slot I I and the upper edge of the upper longitudinal member, thus permitting relative movement of these two members. The transverse members are further provided with lower slots I 8 which terminate short of the lower edge of the transverse members. member is provided with aligned slots I9.

A pair of levers are pivotally mounted on the longitudinal members to permit raising of the grid and to permit relative movement of the upper and lower grid members. As shown, the end extensions 9 and III of the lower grid members are provided with openings 2I for the reception of pivot pins 22 and these pivot pins also pass through elongated openings 23 in the upper longitudinal grid members. The upper longitudinal grid members are further provided with openings 24 for the reception of pins 25. Beyond the pivot pins the levers are provided with toes or extensions 26 to engage the flanges 8 on the edge of the pan. The levers may be of any suitable construction but I have disclosed them as being substantially channel-shaped having flanges 2l, which flanges are enlarged adjacent their ends as indicated at 28 to provide for the reception of the pivot pins. Each lever is provided with a pair of openings in each flange which, when the grid is assembled, are in alignment with the openings 2| and 24.

In Figs. 8 and 9 I have illustrated a modification of the invention in which the tabs or extensions I4 of the upper longitudinal grid member, instead of being provided with the projections I5 are merely ared outwardly as at 279 to give lateral movement to the cubeswhen' The lower edge of the lower longitudinal relative movement of the two grid members occurs.

Referring to Figs. 10 to 15 of the drawings, the grid is assembled by rst placing the transverse members IS on the lower longitudinal member by passing the lower longitudinal member through the slots I8 until one transverse grid member is arranged in alignment with each of the slots I9. The slots I8 are made of greater height than the cross-sectional height of the longitudinal member to permit this operation and to permit the transverse members to be passed over the curved end III' of the lower longitudinal member. After the transverse members are in position in alignment with the slots I9 and in the lower position shown at the right of Fig. 13, they are moved upwardly into the slots I9 so that the upper portion of each slot I8 is clear. The spacing strip is then threaded through the upper portions of the slots I8 as indicated in Fig. 13, the spacing strip being of a width to fill the remainder of the slots I8 and having its lower edge curved to conform to the upper surface of the lower longitudinal member. The transverse members are thus secured tc the lower longitudinal member to prevent relative vertical movement of these members, but the width of the slots I8 and I9 is greater than the thickness of the metal as shown to permit slight relative movement of these parts.

The upper longitudinal member is then assembled with the rest of the structure by passing it downwardly over the transverse members with the slots II in alignment with the transverse members.V The body of the longitudinal member is thus received in the slots Il and the portion of the transverse member between the slots i'I and I8 enters the slots Il. The projections I4 are alternately offset to place them on opposite sides of the lower longitudinal member (see Figs. 4 and 5). The handles 2 are then assembled by passing the bolts 22 and 25 through the proper openings, the bolts 22 passing through the openings 2I in the lower longitudinal member and the openings 23 in the upper longitudinal member and being received in the openings in the flanges. The opening in the flange which receives the threaded end of the bolt (see Fig. 6) is internally threaded.

The tray is then placed in the freezing unit, filled with water, and the cubes formed. VWhen the cubes are to be removed from the tray, the levers 28 are moved in an arc of a circle from the position indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawing to the position indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawing. This initial movement, with the toes 26 of the levers in engagement with the flanges 8, causes the entire grid to be raised from the position shown in Fig. 4 orf the drawings to the position shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. This upward movement releases the cubes from the pan but the cubes are still fastened to the grid. Continued upward. movement of the levers 20 causes the upper grid member to be moved relatively to the lower grid member .and this movement is permitted by the provision 0f the elongated slots 23. The pivot ypins 22 move downwardly in these slots -withthe upper grid member being moved upwardly by the 'pivot pins 25. As this relative movement of the grid members takes place, the projections I5 ride out of the depressions which they have formed in the ice cubes and engage the side of the cube at an adjacent point causing the cubes to be moved laterally and thus release the cubes from the grid.r

lin the form of the inventionshown in Figs. 8 and 9, the operation is substantially the same, the cubes being moved laterally by the flared lower ends of the tabs or projections I4 to release them from the grid. l Y

1. An ice tray comprising 'a pan and a grid in the pan, the grid comprising 1an upper longitudinal member, a lower longitudinal member, and transverse members; the upper longitudinal member being provided `with extensions extending downwardly adjacent the lower longitudinal member, said extensions having projecting portions, and a pair of levers connected to the `upper and lower longitudinal members, said levers being constructed to engage the edge of the pan when they are swung on their :pivots to raise the grid in the pan, and upon further movement to cause relative movement of the upper and llower longitudinal members, 1 l

2. An ice tray comprising a pan and a grid in the pan, the grid comprising an upper longitudinal member, a lower longitudinal member, and transverse members, the upper longitudinal member being provided with a plurality oi spaced slots forming extensions, the extensions being offset to arrange alternate extensions on opposite sides of the lower longitudinal member when the meanbers are assemble-d, each of the extensions being provided with a projecting portion, and a pair of levers connected to the upper and lower longitudinal members, said levers :being constructed to enga-ge the edge of the pan when they are swung on their :pivots to raise the grid in the pan, and upon further movement to cause relative movement of the upper and `lower longitudinal members.

3. An ice tray comprising a -pan and a grid in the pan, the grid comprising an upper longitudinal member, a lower lon-gitudinal member, and transverse members, the upper longitudinal member being 'provided with a plurality of spaced slots, the material between the slots being offset and forming extensions alternate extensions dislposed on opposite sides of the lower longitudinal member when the members are assembled, one extension -being arranged on each side of the lower longitudinal member between each two adjacent transverse members, each of the extensions having a projecting portion, and a lever connected to the upper and lower longitudinal members adjacent each en-d, said levers being constructed to engage the edge of the pan when they are swung on their pivots to raise the grid in the pan, and upon further movement to cause relative movement of the upper and lower 1ongitudinal members.

4. An ice tray comprising a ipan and a grid in the pan, the grid comprising an upper longitudinal member, a lower longitudinal member, and transverse members, the upper longitudinal member being provided with extensions extending downwardly adjacent the -lower longitudinal member, said extensions having projecting portions, .and means for initially raising the grid in the pan to separate the grid and the cubes from the pan and then raising the upper longitudinal member with respect to the remainder of the grid to separate the cubes from the grid.

5. An ice tray comprising a pan and a -grid in the pan, the grid comprising an upper longitudinal member, a lower longitudinal member, and transverse members, the upper longitudinal member having extensions extending downwardly on each side of the lower longitudinal member between eachtwo consecutive transverse members, saidextensions having projections formed `thereon, and means for raising the grid in the pan to separate the cubes from the .pan and then raising the upper longitudinal member with respect. to the rest of the grid to separate the cubes from the grid. l

. G.` An, ice tray comprising a pan and a grid in the pan, the grid comprising an upper longitudinal member,` a lower longitudinal member, and transverse mem'berathe :upper longitudinal member having extensions extending downwardly -on each side of the lower longitudinal member between each two consecutive transverse members, said extensions `having projections formed lthereon, and manually actuated lever means for raising the grid in the pan to separate the cubes,

from the pan `and then raising the upper longitudinalmember 4with respect to the rest of the grid to separate the Ycubesfrorn the grid.

7. An ice tray comprising an open top pan and a grid in the pan, the grid comprising a lower longitudinal member extending the length of the pan and having a lower edge of the same contour as the bottom and end walls of the pan, the lower longitudinal member being provided with end sections extending upwardly above the top of the pan, a plurality of transverse members having openings in their lower portions for the reception of the lower longitudinal member, the transverse members and the lower longitudinal member being secured together against relative vertical movement, and an upper longitudinal member having slots extending from its lower edge for the reception of the transverse members, the transverse members having slots to receive the upper portion of the upper longitudinal member, the upper longitudinal member being movable with respect to the lower longitudinal member and transverse members, the upper longitudinal member having extensions between the slots extending downwardly in close proximity to and on opposite sides of the lower longitudinal member, projections formed on the extensions to form irregular surfaces on the sides of ice cubes formed in the spaces between the longitudinal members, each two adjacent transverse members and the side wall of the pan, and force multiplying means for initially raising the grid in the pan to release the cubes from the pan and then raising the upper longitudinal member with respect to the rest of the grid to release the cubes from the grid.

8. An ice tray comprising an open top pan, a grid in the pan, the grid comprising a lower longitudinal member, transverse members carried by the lower longitudinal member, and secured to the lower longitudinal member against relative vertical movement with respect thereto, and an upper longitudinal member capable of relative movement with respect to the lower longitudinal member and the transverse members, the upper longitudinal member being provided with extensions arranged adjacent to and on opposite sides of the lower longitudinal member, projections formed on the extensions, and lever actuated means for raising the grid in the pan to release ice cubes from the pan and then raising the upper longitudinal member with respect to the rest of the grid to release the cubes from the grid.

9. An ice tray comprising an open top pan and a grid, the grid comprising a lower longitudinal member extending the length of the pan and having a lower edge of the same contour as the bottom and end walls of the pan, the lower longitudinal member being provided with end sections extending upwardly above the top of the pan, transverse members having openings in their lower portions for the reception of the lower longitudinal member, the transverse members and the lower longitudinal member being secured together against relative vertical movement, and an upper longitudinal member having slots extending from its lower edge for the reception of the transverse members, the transverse members having slots to receive the upper portion of the upper longitudinal member, the upper longitudinal member being movable with respect to the lower longitudinal member and transverse members, the upper longitudinal member having extensions between the slots extending downwardly in close proximity to and on opposite sides of the lower longitudinal member, projections formed on the extensions to form irregular surfaces on the sides of ice cubes formed in the space between the longitudinal members, a pair of transverse REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Number Y Reeves Apr. 11, 1939 

